The Medusa Curse

by Gabrielle Lord

  He paused, suddenly looking very frail and tired. For a moment Jazz worried that he might collapse completely. But he shifted in his chair and continued. ‘Eventually, enough was enough. I told Toby his services were no longer required. That’s when I found out there was even more at stake. Toby revealed that all the money he’d brought in was gone. He’d frittered away most of it at the casino. I dug a little deeper and discovered that he’d had massive gambling debts even before we went into business together. But Toby had a solution, of course: Pablo Delgado. He told me Delgado had heard about Sir Robert’s supercomputer and his plans to exhibit it at my museum. He wanted to borrow it. Just for a few days. And in return, he would take care of Toby’s gambling debts and donate enough money to the museum for me to pay off the loan for the Velocity wing. But I knew a bribe when I saw one. I refused.’

  Suddenly there came the soft ping of a message alert, Jazz and Phoenix looked at each other in surprise and checked their phones.

  ‘It’s Mike,’ Phoenix said. ‘He wants to know how much longer we’ll take because the concierge has asked him to move on.’

  ‘Tell him we we’ll be there soon,’ Jazz said. ‘And that we’ve found Dr Zhang. Ask him to give the police a call, get him to ask for Detective Sheppard.’

  They were interrupted by another ping.

  ‘Mike has to leave. He’s just going to drive around the block and then he’ll pick us up on the way back.’

  ‘Hang on. Just one more thing. Dr Zhang, did you know that Delgado owns Kendricks? Or that Camille Wolf-Ferrari was involved in art forgery and the black market?’

  Dr Zhang laughed bitterly. ‘No. I didn’t. But it makes sense. Toby’s story about suddenly meeting Delgado and his offer . . . well, it was all just a little too convenient. They must have been working together from the beginning, waiting for Sapphire to arrive, planting one of their own on my security team. I guess they saw my replication business as a way to get the real artefacts out of the museum and into their hands. The amount of money those European collectors were paying . . . Camille must have been selling the originals as well as the copies, laundering the dirty money through my business. I should have known better. But, I swear, it wasn’t until Friday night when Delgado phoned me, threatening to hurt my family if I didn’t help steal Sapphire, that I realised how terribly deep a hole I had dug for myself.’

  Jazz and Phoenix glanced at each other. They’d heard that phone call.

  ‘I wanted nothing more to do with him or Toby. I was in a daze. Delgado, he had—’ Dr Zhang faltered again, then continued as if in a trance. ‘He had threatened my family and ruined my museum. What could I do? I left the museum, resolving to go home, collect my family and go straight to the police. But Toby was waiting for me, parked right outside the entrance. He pulled me into his sports car and drove around to the secret storage area underneath the museum. He and Sammy tied me up and locked me in the boot of an older car I’d never seen before. Sammy left and then a short time later Toby got a phone call. Next thing I knew, the car smashed through the Velocity wing and Sapphire was in the boot with me. I’ve been at Toby and Delgado’s mercy ever since. I’m the only one who knows enough to expose them.’

  Dr Zhang looked up at Jazz and Phoenix. ‘Tell me, have the police found anything, do they know where Sapphire is? Delgado plans to leave with it tonight.’

  Jazz and Phoenix could only shake their heads. Dr Zhang slumped back. He looked completely defeated.

  They were startled by a loud knock. Jazz and Phoenix jumped up in alarm as they heard someone punching in the entrance code to unlock the front door.

  ‘Toby,’ came a crisp English voice. ‘It’s your father. I’m coming in.’

  The door clicked open and Sir Robert, looking a little worse for wear with a prominent bandage on his head, strode into the room.

  Seeing the assembled group, he stopped, startled. Jazz, Phoenix and Dr Zhang stared at him in return.

  ‘Sir Robert!’ Dr Zhang said, standing up shakily. ‘I’m so relieved to see you.’

  ‘I can’t say the feeling is mutual,’ replied Sir Robert drily. His expression turned stony. ‘Apparently you were supposed to be guarding my prototype supercomputer, which, I’m sure you’re aware, is now missing. I presume you’ve sold it to some villain for a very high price.’

  ‘No, wait,’ Jazz intervened, ‘Dr Zhang was kidnapped. He didn’t steal Sapphire, he—’

  But the billionaire wasn’t interested. He turned on her, eyes flashing with anger. ‘Stay out of this. Unless you and your boyfriend are part of the plot, too? Distracting me so Zhang could break into his own museum and steal my creation?’

  Jazz backed away, shaking her head, but Dr Zhang came to her defence, weak as he was. ‘Leave her alone, she has nothing to do with this!’

  Phoenix’s phone rang, interrupting the warring parties. ‘Mike?’ He frowned. ‘I can’t hear, hang on.’

  Sir Robert’s voice was getting louder as he tried to talk over Dr Zhang’s protests of innocence and explanation. ‘Why should I believe a word you—’

  ‘Quiet!’ Phoenix’s voice was commanding as it pierced through the noise of the argument. For a moment, Jazz was reminded of Phoenix’s own influential father. The other two men seemed to notice something too because they stopped arguing.

  Mike’s voice, urgent and panicky, could be heard in the sudden silence. ‘You guys are about to have company. Toby Grimshaw just drove past in his fancy car. Delgado’s with him. I think they’re heading straight back to the apartment!’

  01:02

  Jazz snatched the phone from Phoenix and spoke into it urgently. ‘Mike! Dr Zhang can’t run. We need time to get him out of here. Try and distract Delgado. And call the police!’

  ‘On it,’ Mike promised. Still anxious, Jazz handed the phone back to Phoenix.

  Sir Robert looked outraged. ‘Delgado?! What’s he got to do with this? Who do you kids think you are, calling the police to my son’s apartment? Are you trying to implicate him in your vile plot?’

  ‘There’s no time to explain. I’m sorry, Sir Robert, but we really do have to leave now,’ Jazz urged.

  ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ the billionaire snapped. ‘I’m calling my lawyer. I suggest you do the same.’ As he regarded Jazz, Phoenix and Dr Zhang with contempt, he caught sight of the tall marble statue of the Medusa. ‘Why, the little—’ He marched over, circling the statue, barely able to contain his disgust. ‘That boy has some explaining to do!’ With that, he left the room, and went into the penthouse study, slamming the door shut behind him.

  Dr Zhang turned to Jazz. ‘Sir Robert won’t listen to me. He doesn’t believe his son would get involved with Delgado. I know Delgado will stop at nothing to get Sapphire’s access frequencies. So if he finds Sir Robert here . . . we’ll all be in terrible danger.’

  Jazz could see there was no point talking to Sir Robert while he was in a fury. So she crossed the room, kicked aside the the ropes that had kept her best friend’s dad a prisoner and opened the front door. She addressed Dr Zhang. ‘Let’s at least get you out of here. The police will be on their way. They can take care of the rest.’

  Phoenix didn’t move to follow her. He was standing where she left him, jaw set, frowning. ‘You don’t know that for sure, Jazz. What if the police don’t believe Mike right away? By the time he convinces them he’s for real, it could be too late. We can’t rescue Dr Zhang and leave Sir Robert here alone.’ He looked pointedly at the mess of rope on the floor near Jazz’s feet.

  Jazz’s heart sank; he was right. Then she rallied, ‘OK, Phoenix, you and I will stay behind to protect Sir Robert. Dr Zhang, you leave while there’s still time!’

  ‘No,’ he replied. ‘This is all my fault. I can’t run away like a coward and leave you here to face these men. You two go. I’ll try and stall them.’

  Jazz protested. ‘But what about your family, they—’

  ‘They’d never understand if I left you behind. I’m staying.�
� His voice was firm.

  Phoenix pushed the front door closed. ‘We’re all staying,’ he said. ‘If Delgado wants Sir Robert, he’ll have to face all of us first.’

  ‘And get through this door,’ Jazz added. ‘Let’s try and block it. We’ve got to hold them off until the police come!’

  Phoenix, Jazz and Dr Zhang worked to push the heavy leather lounges against the door to the penthouse. Then they put the dining chairs, a coffee table and a heavy carved chest on top to weigh the lounges down. Soon the area behind the door with its piled-up furniture resembled the back wall of a junk shop.

  They stood back and examined their handiwork.

  Phoenix shook his head. ‘It’ll slow them down, but it won’t stop them.’

  Dr Zhang hadn’t given up trying to keep Jazz and Phoenix from the action. ‘Toby and Delgado may not even know you kids are here. In case this barrier doesn’t hold, you two had better hide outside in the garden. I’m going to try and talk sense into Sir Robert. If the police don’t make it here in time, at least you’ll both be safe.’ He turned and went into the study without waiting for their reply.

  Jazz and Phoenix shared a glance, both thinking the same thing. They weren’t kids. They weren’t going to hide while Sir Robert and Dr Zhang were attacked.

  Jazz pointed to the ancient weapons decorating the far wall. ‘Maybe we could arm ourselves in case they break through our barrier.’

  The two of them raced over to yank some of the spears and shields from their fittings.

  Jazz examined one. ‘It’s a fake,’ she said, ‘but it looks realistic enough. If we can fool Toby and Delgado, maybe they’ll back off.’

  The weapons and shields were made of a strong, lightweight plastic painted to resemble timber and bronze. The spears had wicked-looking points though with backwards-pointing barbs.

  Another message arrived from Mike. Phoenix checked it. ‘Delgado and Toby are in the lift,’ he reported grimly.

  Jazz ran to the study. ‘Hey!’ she shouted, banging on the closed door. ‘They’ll be here any minute!’

  The door opened and Dr Zhang hobbled out. Phoenix tossed him one of the fake spears. Despite his earlier weakness, he caught it easily. Surprised at how light it was, he looked closer at the spear. He snorted in amusement as he realised it was a fake, but he held it at the ready. ‘Well, at least we look prepared to fight,’ he smiled wryly.

  ‘Sir Robert?’ Phoenix asked.

  ‘Still talking to his lawyer,’ Dr Zhang answered. ‘I tried to interrupt, but he wouldn’t listen. I just hope, for his sake, that he stays in there until the police arrive . . . if they arrive.’

  Meanwhile, Jazz had picked up the heavy crystal swan and placed it on the floor next to her, standing by and ready for use against anyone who dared to crash through the obstacle course at the door. Footsteps echoing outside in the private marble foyer galvanised the three defenders. Phoenix pressed his weight against the coffee table on one side of the door while Jazz and Dr Zhang pushed against a lounge. Jazz prayed for the police to arrive—fast!

  They froze as they heard the entrance code being entered on the keypad. And then the swearing began outside as Delgado and Grimshaw realised they couldn’t open the penthouse door.

  ‘The doorway’s blocked! Come on, Grimshaw. Put your shoulder into it!’ Delgado ordered outside. ‘Push man, push!’

  They could hear Toby muttering to Delgado. ‘Our friend . . . must have . . . gotten free . . . somehow,’ he was saying between shoves. Then he raised his voice to a shout, ‘Give it up, Zhang! You should’ve escaped while you had the chance!’

  They could hear the grunts and curses as the two men outside the apartment used their combined strength on the door. Dr Zhang, Jazz and Phoenix pressed as hard as they could against the barrier. Then, in dismay, they watched as the door slowly started to open. Delgado had ripped one of the abstract steel sculptures off a wall in the foyer. He was wedging it in the gap like a lever, leaning his whole body against the sculpture to pry the door open further.

  Bit by bit, their makeshift barrier was forced further into the apartment, getting dangerously close to the Medusa who continued to gaze resolutely out at the plunge pool. The swearing outside the door had become louder and angrier.

  Finally, with one huge surge, the door opened. The furniture barricade tumbled, chests and chairs thudding near the priceless marble statue, which shifted alarmingly on its plinth. Toby Grimshaw almost fell into the room. Delgado, following close behind, shoved him.

  ‘Not another step!’ Phoenix yelled. He lunged in the intruders’ direction with his spear, but still keeping his distance. Jazz and Dr Zhang followed suit.

  Surprised, the two men stepped back. Then Delgado narrowed his eyes and glared at Phoenix. ‘You again. Get out of the way, it’s Zhang we want.’ He was still holding the steel sculpture. Brandishing it like a weapon, he advanced on the group.

  Jazz knew their fake plastic spears weren’t going to cut it. So she dropped hers and lifted up the crystal swan. Holding it in front of her body, she rushed at Delgado, smashing the heavy ornament into the steel sculpture, driving Delgado back into Toby and sending both of them sprawling across the polished wooden floor until they crashed into the marble table. In all the confusion, it was hard to see who had the winning hand. Broken pieces of crystal spread across the floor like huge diamonds.

  That’s when Delgado’s voice cut through the yells and curses. ‘Hands up! All of you! You too, Grimshaw!’

  ‘Look out!’ cried Phoenix, dropping his spear to put his hands in the air. ‘He’s got a gun!’ He was aware of Dr Zhang doing the same thing out of the corner of his eye.

  ‘Wha-what are you doing?’ cried Toby, climbing to his feet and brushing bits of sharp crystal off his shoulders.

  Jazz found she couldn’t take her eyes off the ugly pistol. Slowly she raised her arms, aware of how they trembled. One of her hands was bleeding, cut by a crystal shard from the shattered swan. Fear drained the strength from her legs. What Dr Zhang had said was true. Delgado would go to any lengths to get what he wanted, even if that meant shooting all of them . . .

  Toby was also bleeding. But he slowly raised his hands.

  ‘Don’t even think about giving me any trouble,’ sneered Delgado. ‘Toby, do what I say. First, deal with Zhang and those two,’ he spat in Jazz and Phoenix’s direction.

  With the weapon trained on them, Delgado walked sideways to pick up the ropes that had been used to tie up Dr Zhang. He threw them at Toby. ‘Here, tie them up. Then you can give me what I came here for.’

  Toby looked offended. It looked like he was about to protest. But Delgado was having none of it.

  ‘Do it!’ he commanded. ‘Your debt is only half paid off. And I won’t finish paying it off unless you do exactly what I say. Work for a living or die. Those are your choices, rich boy. Now get moving, I have a ship to catch.’

  Face hard, Toby took a length of rope and walked purposefully towards Phoenix in the centre of the room.

  Phoenix made his hands into fists and got into a boxing stance. ‘Get back!’ he yelled.

  Toby hesitated, the ropes hanging from his hands. Delgado strode towards Phoenix and pushed the nose of the gun hard into his chest. His voice was terrifyingly calm. ‘It’s better if you cooperate.’

  Behind Delgado, Jazz slowly picked up a spear from the floor. She nodded at Phoenix who dropped suddenly into a crouch and rolled away from the two men. In one swift move, she jabbed Delgado hard with the spear’s plastic tip, trying to knock the pistol from his grip. The entrepreneur yelped in pain and fury, but he didn’t drop the gun. Instead he swung round to level it at Dr Zhang who was standing further back, near one of the glass walls. His face was white, and he still had his hands up.

  ‘No!’ screamed Jazz. At the same moment, Sir Robert burst out of the study. With a shock of surprise, Phoenix recognised what gleamed in his hands: FTTS, the Frequency Tripled Titanium Sapphire laser. Sir Robert was holding the laser o
ut in front of him, like a weapon.

  Delgado looked stunned. ‘How did you get here?’ he demanded. ‘How did you find that?’

  ‘It is mine,’ replied Sir Robert with a chuckle. ‘Did you think it was yours? Are you worried it will threaten your little business enterprise?’

  ‘Little?’ echoed Delgado. ‘Pah. My software controls thousands of companies around the globe.’

  ‘Your software hacks into computer systems to mine for data and sell it to the highest bidder,’ countered Sir Robert. ‘Sapphire will stop all that. Something that scares you so much you are prepared to steal and kill for it.’

  Toby Grimshaw’s mouth opened and shut like a goldfish at the appearance of Sir Robert. Finally he managed to gasp, ‘Father!’

  ‘Hello, son,’ replied Sir Robert, his clipped accent almost spitting out the last word.

  ‘I thought you were . . .’ spluttered Toby.

  ‘Dying? In a coma? Thank you so much for your concern. I was sorry not to have you there, holding my hand as I woke up this morning. Perhaps you were put off by the heavy police presence protecting me from certain undesirables.’ Here he aimed FTTS towards Delgado, who hesitated, unsure, still pointing the gun at Dr Zhang.

  ‘Put the weapon down, Delgado, or I’ll melt you with this laser!’ said Sir Robert. His voice became low and menacing. ‘Doctor Zhang and these two young people have been trying to tell me about your absurd shenanigans. So absurd that I didn’t believe them until you turned up here!’ He smiled apologetically. ‘I should warn you, Delgado, in case you think you’ll shoot me first, that this laser has a hair-trigger and is tuned to its most powerful setting. If I were to be hit by a bullet, the jolt could set it off. It’s not pleasant being hit with something almost as hot as the surface of the sun. Horrible to watch, too, as someone fizzes into a nasty mess on the floor.’

  Moving closer to Dr Zhang, Delgado sneered in disbelief. ‘Put the toy away, old man,’ he said, calling Sir Robert’s bluff.